Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS there are two existing national parks in the western Arctic, namely: Nahanni National Park Reserve, which is still subject to aboriginal right, title and interest, and Wood Buffalo National Park;
AND WHEREAS new national parks are also operational or being planned for the western Arctic, namely: Ivvavik, which is located in the Inuvialuit settlement area in the Yukon territory, but is administered out of Inuvik, Aulavik and Tuktut Nogait, also part of Bluenose Park;
AND WHEREAS two park reserves have been formally established in Nunavut: Auyuittuq, Ellesmere Island;
AND WHEREAS Canadian Heritage has announced plans for four more national parks which are either in Nunavut or partly in Nunavut, namely: north Baffin, Bathurst Island, Wager Bay and Bluenose, along with national historic sites, Piqqiq and Arviaq;
AND WHEREAS the new and planned national parks were established with the consent and support of adjacent communities and Inuit organizations as a means of protecting the land while preserving aboriginal rights, including traditional hunting rights, as well as providing economic and employment benefits;
AND WHEREAS the land claim settlement of the Inuit of Nunavut was predicated on existing parks and new parks being established in the Nunavut land claims settlement area and notes a commitment to complete the representation of national park regions in Nunavut;
AND WHEREAS during the land selection process of the Inuit land claim negotiations, Inuit land selections were made in good faith and in contemplation of and reliance upon Canadian Heritage's ongoing commitment to supporting and maintaining existing and future national parks in Nunavut;
AND WHEREAS existing national park reserves and proposed national parks will require the negotiation of Inuit impact and benefit agreements under the Inuit impact and benefits provisions of the Nunavut land claims agreement;
AND WHEREAS Canadian Heritage has recently worked in close cooperation with the Government of the NWT in joint ventures, such as establishing territorial parks in conjunction with heritage rivers, national historic sites, collaboration on visitors' and nature centres and exhibitory;
AND WHEREAS Canadian Heritage proposes to reorganize its management structure in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS Canadian Heritage may be facing budget reductions in Nunavut and the western Northwest Territories as a result of the recent federal budget which cut the department's budget by approximately 20 per cent in future years;
AND WHEREAS there is strong concern on the part of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and Nunavut Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, that there should be continued close planning and financial cooperation between the GNWT and Canadian Heritage and that financial and human resources should not be withdrawn from Nunavut in light of the previous commitments made to support existing and future national parks in Nunavut and on the eve of Inuit impact and benefit agreement negotiations under the Inuit land claim;
AND WHEREAS there is strong concern on the part of some western aboriginal leaders and some MLAs in the western Arctic about the shifting of resources and erosion of resources within the western Arctic, which changes appear to have been implemented without significant consultation with affected communities;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Baffin Central, that Mr. Bill Balan, regional executive director for the Department of Canadian Heritage (Prairies and NWT region) or his designate, be invited by this Assembly to appear at his or her expense to outline current organizational and fiscal changes and respond to the concerns of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
